Machine for trimming carriage-tops



(No Model.)

W. B. QUIMBY. MACHINE FOR TRIMMING CARRIAGE TOPS.

No. 458,252. Patented Aug. 25, 1891i Wanizssss INVENTUR me roams mus w,PNUTD-LITNO, wnsmuen-cn, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILMOT B. QUI'MBY, OF AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR TRlMMlNG CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,252, dated August25, 1891.

Application filed July 31,1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, XVILMOT B. QUIMBY, a resident of Amesbury, in thecounty of Essex and State of Massachusetts have invented a new anduseful Machine for Trimming Oarriage-Tops, of which the following, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a combined series of devicesthe use of which will enable a workman to frame and finish the foldingtops required for carriages separate from the bodies thereof, thuscreating a new and distinct branch in the manufacture of said carriages,inasmuch as that the top can be made in advance of the bodies, if sorequired. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation showing thegeneral construction of the machine and manner of securing theframe-bows in position; and Fig. 2, a vertical section on line a; 58,Fig. 1,showing in detail the different parts of the machine.

Similar letters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views.

' The construction is as follows: A A, Fig. 1, represents the end frameof the machine, which is rectangular in form and made of metal in anydesired proportion. Its side rails a project above the level of the endframe A A, and terminate in an inwardly-projecting right-angular rib,forming a lip a, over which is passed the clutches a of the slidingcarriages B, of which there are two, one on each end of the frame A A,so fitted that'they can be made to slide back or forth on the topsurface of the side rails Cl, when so desired, and are provided at theextreme outer edges of each with two arms or, which reach Serial No.319,306. (No model.)

a being made in such proportion that a clam ping-block a can be passedup or down therein, and at the extreme inner edge of each carriage B, atthe longitudinal center on the bottom surface and projecting downwardtherefrom, is a flange b, which is drilled out and threaded internallyfor the reception of the shaft 1) b, which is pivoted in the ends of theframe of the machine, as shown at b and is furnished at one end with aright and at the other end with a left hand screw-thread, and bent inthe form of a crank at its center. (Shown atb Fig. 2.)

In practice the ends of the shaft h b are threaded through the flangesZ) Z) and placed in the pivot-bearings 19 b Fig. 2, of the frame A A,when, by revolving the crank 6 backward or forward, the carriages B aresimultaneously sent out or brought in by the action of the reversedthreads of the shaft-screws.

To operate the device, the workman first ascertains the diameter of thecircle of which the folding top forms an arc, and by the aid of thescale on the surface of the upright bar a adjusts and by the action of athumb-nut secures the clamping-bolt a at the center of said circle. Itsinner end is then passed through and secured in the hole 17 of thesocket-joint b, which pivots together the lower ends of the carriage-topbows G. Their upper ends are then placed in the proper position, wherethey are held by the action of the sockets a insuch a manner that theworkman can secure the covering intended therefor, and finish the top inreadiness to be placed in position on the vehicle when so required. Ifin either event the frame-bows C are warped in or out side of the properproportion, the defect is remedied by bringing in or sending out thecarriages B after the bows C have been secured thereto; or if it isnecessary to make the tops wider or narrower than the said bows wereoriginally intended for the results can be accomplished by the samemeans; and I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to theexact mechanism herein described, as I know by experiment there areother mechanical means of attaining similar results, as the carriages Bmay be contrived in such a manner as to be impelled by gearing or belt;but I prefer the present construction as being the best, the principlesinvolved in this device being the simultaneous motion of the carriages Band of adjusting and securing the frame-bows O in the manner and for thepurposes hereinbefore explained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine for making and trimming thefolding tops for buggies, which consists of the frame A, having aprojecting rib a and shaftbearings b the twin carriages B, having theclutches a which bear against the under surfaces of the ribs a, andconnected by the screw-shaft b, and provided with central upright barsa", and having side arms a to which are secured the cross-bars aprovided with the sockets a, the central upright bars a havinglongitudinal slots a for the reception of clamping bolts a and furnishedwith surface scales of inches and fractional parts thereof, and theclamping-bolts a", all the parts being constructed and arranged in sucha manner as will enable the workman to set, adjust, and hold in thedesired position while separate from the body thereof the framebows C ofthe folding top of a buggy preparatory to and during the process ofplacing and securing the covering thereon and of finishing said top inreadiness to be placed on the vehicle, substantially as described andset forth.

2. In a machine for trimming folding tops for buggies, the combinationof the twin carriages B, carrying fixed upwardly-extending arms a,having devices for holding the carriage-top bows and movedsimultaneously to or from each other in the same longitudinal andhorizontal plane, and the central longitud-inal screw-shaft 1),operating in the same plane with the twin carriages B, whereby saidcarriages are connected and moved, substantially as described, for thepurposes set forth.

3. In a machine for making and trimming folding tops for buggies, thetwin carriages B, having a transversely parallel and horizontal motion,whereby the bows C of the frame are made wider or narrower in equalproportion as may be required to suit the different widths of the seats,and central upright bars a having longitudinal slots therein for thereception of clamping-bolts a" and furnished with surface scales ofinches and parts thereof, whereby the bows G are centrally andperpendicularly adjusted to suit the various depths of the sides andbacks thereof, in combination with the arms a*, perforated cross-bars asockets a, clutches a, screw-shaft b, angular rib a on the side rail aof the frame A, and the frame A, constructed and arranged in the mannersubstantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a machine for making and trimming the folding tops of buggies, theperforated cross-bars a and sockets a, whereby the bows O are held inany desired angle vertically, in combination with and secured to thearms a of the twin carriages B, having the clutches a and connected bythe crank-shaft b, the

screw-shaft b, clutches a and angular rib a on the side rail a of theframe A, constructed and arranged substantially as described, for thepurposes set forth.

5. In a machine for making and trimming the folding tops for buggies, incombination, the frame A, having the angular side rib a and end bearings11 for the crank-shaft Z), the screw-shaft b, bearings b clutches abearing on the under surfaces of the ribs a and secured to the bottomsurfaces of the twin carriages B, the twin carriages B, connected by thescrew-shaft b and sliding on the upper surface of the side rails a ofthe frame A and having the upright arms a and central upright bars ahaving the longitudinal slots a for the reception of the clamping-boltsa and furnished with scales of inches and fractional parts thereof, thecentral upright bars a", slots a and clamping-bolts a, upright arms ahaving secured thereto the cross-bars a provided with the sockets a, thecross-bar a, and sockets a", constructed and arranged substantially asdescribed, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 2d day of July, A. D.1889.

IVILM OT B. QUIMBY.

Witnesses:

FRED A. BROWN, WILLIAM DUOHEMIN.

